GP020 SNECMA COLEOPTERE

The SNECMA C-450 Coleoptere was a French experimental vertical take-off and landing aircraft. The first flight of this unusual machine took place in 1958 - it never entered mass production. The drive was provided by a single engine SNECMA Atar EV turbojet. The C-450 Coleoptere was created in connection with the SNECMA concern's desire to create a vertical take-off and landing aircraft for primarily military purposes. This plane was characterized by a very unusual design with a pilot's cabin located in the bow of the fuselage, an engine located behind the cabin and the so-called a closed wing surrounding the aft part of the fuselage. The C-450 Coleoptere was adjusted to the vertical position via a special mobile platform. In the period 1958-1959, the plane made eight successful flights, in each of which it only took off and landed vertically. It was only on the ninth flight that it was decided to test the possibility of horizontal flight. At the time of transition to this phase of flight, the machine crashed. The test pilot survived the accident, but the entire project was canceled as unsuccessful.